In short: Badly organised, but PB potential if you can park the car!In full: Took me an hour and 20 to park from less than a mile away, would have missed the start if not delayed. The whole area was grid-locked as just a single car track entrance to the park. Enjoyed the run though, got a PB so is a fast course although a bit tight for the numbers and a few unwelcome U-turns. Had to try and find water etc. after the finish, just all seemed to be have been done on the cheap, pointless t-shirt also. I won't do again, parking has put me off even though they have apologised and said it won't happen next year!Date of review: November 23, 2016

In short: Absolutely loved my first off road race. Never even ran the Ultra 10k distance before, let alone on that terrain before!! Despite that, I thought it was brilliant!Date of review: November 22, 2016

In short: Challenging but not too difficult course, lovely scenery, friendly raceIn full: 1st time doing Clowne. Well organised. Great course, challenging enough without being too hard. Good finishers bag, really great quality hoody - something a bit different than a t-shirt for once and very welcome due to the weather. Loads of free cakes and flapjack made by the club (I presume) was a lovely touch. Only downside was the weather but that can't be helped.Date of review: November 22, 2016

In short: Dreadful weather but great day outIn full: It rained, it was cold, there were hills (near the end not the beginning) and it was a challenging run..

but

Super friendly marshalls, great goodies at the end (homemade flapjack and a hoodie!) and i managed a 8.10 minute PB on a course and in conditions that alot of experienced runners told me was challenging.

Not closed roads, but well marshalled where there were cars.

Thoroughly enjoyed it though and its high on the list to do again next yearDate of review: November 22, 2016

In short: Good alternative to flat tarmac H/MIn full: For a run that's is basically run by volunteers it's pretty damn good. Don't come looking looking for PB's as it's virtually all trail running. I have done many halfs before for times this one I did it just for the physicality and it was different:)

In short: A top race in the regionIn full: I love this half marathon and try to come back each year. It is not simple, there are some hills (but they come down also). The views are fab, and the organisation is superb.

It is not a vastly populated area, but the locals do come out and cheer you on .. and this year it was in the most appalling weather.

It is superb value. This year we had gels, power drinks and a good quality hoody. All for a reasonable entry price. Without doubt the best value race around as far as I am concerned.

Have to confess to struggling this year, the weather is often unkind. That just adds to the day, this is without doubt a challenge of a half marathon.

In short: Warm and motivating, club organised event, in terrible weather in a scenic countryside.In full: Weather for this race always is terrible, but still something to treat as personal challenge or willpower training.Course is undulating with few long hills after mile 9 - make sure there is enough left in tank! Love that te course is mentally stimulating - no long dreary stretches, lovely farming scenery on rolling hills.Organised by a friendly club which means cheap entry, home made flapjack and biscuits at the end, warm hoodie too. Very noncomercial event, which I prefer.Something I treat as an annual challenge, not expecting an all time PB from this course. People from hilly areas do better there than people from flatlands.Date of review: November 22, 2016

In short: Definately a mixed review on this one!In full: Difficult to appraise this one. Clearly there were a lot of major issues with access but being local and cycling in and parking my bike 100 yards from the start line suffered from none of those problems and found it a doddle to get to and from!

I gather this is the same company who run the Cheshire 10k at Arley Hall. Both the November 2015 and 2016 running of this event suffered similar issues. I’ve done countless races over the years and it’s only those two Arley Hall ones and this Tatton one run by the same people that have been delayed. Seems to be a common theme and there’s always an excuse about traffic, floods etc.

There clearly seems something more to this is in the organisation that needs a good long hard look at. It may be simply having events at such Stately Homes doesn’t work because of the one way in/one way out situations?

So called event village was ok at the start. Don’t follow the criticism of that. Needed a better coffee stall. These ones that just sell poncey mocha whatever the hells they are take to long to serve out of their slow machines hence huge queues. Loads of toilets which was good although the one I used was pretty grim and blocked – don’t know if that was typical of all of them.

Tatton Park itself was stunning to run in - although I do so for free every weekend so paying to do so was an odd concept! However, it wasn’t really suited to a Half Marathon and the route felt shoehorned into the park with lots of bizarre loops around the Old Hall Car Park, the barbeque area and looping around cones. Two lap course as well. Don’t normally like multiple laps but actually didn’t mind that.

The run upto the Rostherne main entrance at the start was pretty chaotic with the road divided into two with cones down the middle which were a trip hazard and runners on either side running in opposite directions. Thrown into that were also stragglers in the 10k running very slowly and causing an obstacle. Only good part of that was when you looped back you could gauge where your mates were and how far ahead/behind you were. Route was flat and fast though.

As for other comments on overall distance my Garmin measured 13.06m. Mile marker signs were as confusing as could be with the different ones for the 10k and each lap on the half. Eventually figured them out but some very inaccurately located.

Marshalling spot on. Special shout out to one enthusiastic chap who seemed to cover half the course himself running along shouting encouragement and high fiving.

Atmosphere in park and support great also.Goody bag non existent. Cotton T-shirt. Nice design but cotton really? Where’s the proper Technical T shirts? Another one for gardening in. Medal nice if you like that kind of rubbish. Will sit in a drawer and not see daylight again. Rather have a couple of quid off the entry fee or go towards a proper T shirt.

Having said all that I actually enjoyed it! Was pleased with my time and would do it again.

In short: Poorly organised, but a reasonably quick course with pretty sceneryIn full: There were long delays getting into the car park, such that I ended up parking a mile away and jogging to the start...only to be told they had delayed it by 10 mins, which then became 15! No information on local traffic reports or on their websites or on Twitter, and no excuse for this in this day and age with the technology available.

Given the distance (half marathon) it was really poor to have no goody bag at the end - all we got was a cotton T-shirt and a medal, an energy bar, energy drink and water would have been good as a bare minimum for this length of race!

Course was mainly on tarmac / concrete, but a handful of short sections on cobbles / compacted mud (which wasn't ideal given the rain!)

On the plus side Tatton Park is a pretty venue. Also it was well marshalled throughout (and some of the marshals were quite encouraging!)

Were this race run with better car parking arrangements and in the spring / summer it would probably be a fantastic experience. Overall though I will unlikely do it again at this time of year without clear evidence that the organisers have upped their game.Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Friendly Half, top hoodyIn full: Well organised, friendly marshals, very good goody bag and hoody for the winter months, makes a change from T-shirts.Undulating but very scenic.Like the change in the course.Well done Clowne, will be back next year.Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Poor organisation. Parking nightmare, few on site facilities esp food & drinkIn full: Took over 50 mins to park after joining queue a mile from site. Few on-site facilities apart from portaloos. Two coffee vendors (single handed) was total of food and drink available - really could have done with a couple of burger stands.Course was poorly designed - e.g. an 'out and back' stretch in the first mile with over 1300 runners trying to share one footpath in two directions. Plus mile markers for second part all wrong (I think course had been changed) and my GPS tells me it was short!Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Poor organisation In full: An absolute shambles of an event from start (parking hell) to finish. Even failed to capitalise on what should have been a great location Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Challenging but very enjoyableIn full: A very hilly race but with fantastic scenery and great marshals. Very well organised and the 2 minute silence plus singing of the national anthem at the start was a lovely touch. Nice to start and finish indoors where it was lovely and warm with tea and coffee being served. A friendly race with lots of encouragement (which was often needed!).Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Friendly, well organised eventIn full: Despite Storm Angus doing it's best, this was an excellently organised event with a great medal and goody bag. On a less windy day this 2 lap course has pb potential. Plenty of parking nearby and a good venue for the race headquarters (great to get out of the wind and enjoy tea and cake to recover!).Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: As good as it gets...In full: Some of the best and friendliest marshals I have ever encountered. Superb organisation without being officious. A goody bag that is environmentally friendly - and filled with things I actually wanted after a long run. Great medal.The course is a really good one - I'm not normally a fan of multiple laps, but this was absolutely fine because there was enough to look at for the experience not to be boring. And I very nearly managed not to be lapped by the leading elite runner!Weather was rubbish, of course. But this is November - and at least it didn't rain on us!Thank you everyone. A superb day. Well worth driving 100 miles to attend.Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Battling Storm Angus!In full: While it's two laps, what could be better than running those two laps along the sea front?

I love this race and have done the last three. The friendly marshals and volunteers, the excellent goody bag and organisation make it what it is and I'll be back next year.Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: Not bad, but not great either.In full: Positives: Pleasant course, pretty flat with a few mild undulations. (if it weren't overcast and raining the scenery would likely be great)

Plenty of friendly marshals along the course and organising.

Race medal was pretty nice bling.

Route was well marked.

Negatives:Traffic chaos (allegedly due to an accident on motorway, but restricting access to one small gate for all surrounding road to filter into is more likely - start was delayed and no communication outside the venue itself (not great when you're sat in the traffic).

Convoluted route - 2 laps but plenty of 360 degree turns which is never fun.

Run Surface - advertised as road but most of the course is on paths around Tatton park, the surface varies between perfectly paved, paths covered in slick leaves, some sections heavily potholed, stone covered trail when coming back through for second lap, and muddy grass on the start of the second lap. The finish straight was on grass also - which in the rain became very muddy - not great when already tired.

Race t-shirt was heavy cotton (seriously who gives out cotton t-shirts for a race these days?) :)

The route was available only as an image file on the website before the race, which as it was a convoluted route made it virtually indecipherable.

Other:Plenty of support at the end of the first lap and finish, but course was desolate for the remainder (albeit with very friendly marshals at each turn) - good to focus on the race but very different from a city marathon.

Potentially short course? Multiple Garmins registered between 13.03 and 13.09 miles - GPS typcially over estimates distance, but could be due to the 360 degree turns and GPS cutting the corners. The distance markers started getting a little off on the second lap.

That being said - it was the first time the event had been run, with a few tweaks it could be a good race, but I won't be rushing back just yet.Date of review: November 21, 2016

In short: A very well organised coastal run, in adverse weather conditions.In full: Congratulations to the Organisers for putting on such an excellent race, in such difficult conditions. Everything worked like clockwork, from smiling helpful marshalls, in the car park, speedy collection of numbers and baggage drop, lots of cheerful and encouraging marshalls all round the course, plenty of water stations and generous goody bag and medal at the finish.Plenty of spectator support, and lots of children high fiving, a great and friendly atmosphere.I recommend this race to runners of all abilities, and on a less windy day, this would definitely be a pb race. I was 6 minutes quicker than last year, so very happy.I'll be back again next year, all being well.Date of review: November 21, 2016